312 PRODUCTIVE FEEDING OF FARM ANIMALS 



not apparently gain further in weight. They are then taken out 

 and finished on a ration of corn and tankage, cotton-seed meal, 

 peas, shorts, or gluten feed, in the proportion of seven parts of corn 

 to one of tankage, or of three parts of corn to two parts of either of 

 the other feeds. The fattening period ordinarily lasts about sixty 

 days, at the end of which time the hogs will generally weigh about 

 200 pounds. 



In other sections of the country hogs are either fattened on dif- 

 ferent kinds of pasture and fed grain in addition, or are fed in 

 a dry lot until ready for the market. The latter method is less 

 satisfactory for summer and fall feeding than pasturage, as it 

 increases the cost of production, the hogs are less thrifty, and a 

 larger amount of grain is required per 1 00 pounds gain. It is essen- 

 tial to furnish some green feed, as clover, alfalfa, and corn. The 

 kind of grain fed with it will vary according to the character of the 

 available green feed ; with leguminous crops the grain may consist 

 of corn or barley, preferably soaked or ground, with a little tankage. 

 If green corn, rape, or sorghum forage is fed, more nitrogenous 

 feed mixtures must be supplied ; skim milk and tankage are the best 

 supplementary feeds with the cereals and mill feeds. Cotton-seed 

 meal is fed considerably in the South to fattening hogs with corn 

 or other grain, but fatal results often follow on account of the 

 poisonous principles found therein (p. 200). If the animals are to 

 be fed not more than twenty-one days in the finishing period after 

 pasturage or running with steers, one-third of the total grain ration 

 may be made up of cotton-seed meal ; if it is likely to extend beyond 

 twenty-one days, the proportion of cotton-seed meal must be reduced 

 to one-fifth or one-sixth of the whole ration and the finishing period 

 be limited to five weeks in all. 19 



The Use of Self-feeder.— The self-feeder (Figs. 85 and 86) 

 has been used more and more during late years in feeding fattening 

 swine, for feeding either grain feeds, or grain and cut hay, or salt, 

 charcoal, etc., and has given similar results, as in the case of steers 

 (p. 268 ). 20 The self-feeder or "free-choice " system has proved of 

 special value for fattening swine, when rapid gains are wanted. It 

 saves considerable labor and insures a maximum consumption of 

 feed and correspondingly large gains in body weight. It should 

 not be used where it is intended to feed only a limited amount of 

 grain, to pigs on pasture, or to pregnant sows or breeding stock, 



"Farmers' Bulletin 411. 



20 Maryland Bui. 150; Ore. Bui. 127; Wis. Cir. 119; Ills. Cir. 218; 

 Maine Ext. Bui. 117; Mo. Bui. 144; N. J. Rept. 36, p. 85; Farmers' Bui. 

 906; Wisconsin Agriculturist, Sept. 17, 1914. 



